Framed sign



R. E. KAROLY May 11, 1965 FRAMED SIGN Filed D60. 5, 1962 FIG. 2.

FIG. 3

FIG.

INVENTOR.

ROBERT E. KAROLY 5&0.

ATTORN United States Patent 3,182,413 FRAMED SIGN Robert E. Karoly, 1165 N. Rio Vista Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Filed Dec. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 242,529 3 Claims. (Cl. 40-40) This invention relates to a framed sign adapted for outdoor use, either on a stationary mounting or a moving vehicle. The display matter is carried on a board which is removably supported in an open frame of generally rectangular contour having at its back a closure plate irremovably secured thereto. It is largely the special means whereby such a plate is attached to the frame for cooperation therewith that this invention is concerned with.

An important use for the present sign is its outdoor display on stands, easels, or fixed structures whereon it may be mounted detachably or otherwise; and also on moving vehicles, such as taxicabs, busses, and the like, to which the sign should be securely attached. It may be desirable also that the display matter be changed from time to time by the substitution within the frame of one sign board for another. Such a replacement should be facile so to require but little effort and time. And above all, the retention of. the board within the frame should be immovable and vibrationless when exposed to varying weather conditions, particularly unpredictable winds and fluctuating atmospheric pressures. This requirement is especially important wherethe sign assembly is carried upon the exterior of a moving vehicle, as for example, at the rear of a taxicab body where the slipstream over its top, resulting from forward movement of the vehicle at speeds both normal and otherwise, creates a turbulent pressure differential which may violently react upon the sign, tending to warp and deflect its frame with possible dislodgement of the sign board therefrom.

It is with a view to meeting all such severe outdoor conditions as these that the present sign frame improvements have been devised. The complete structure is strong, durable, inexpensive, and simple. And when the sign board is assembled in place within the frame, the closure plate therefor maintains a continuing pressure thereagainst tending to hold the board firmly against movement relative to itself and to the frame whereby to prevent annoying noises such as result from vibrations, chattering, and the like.

A suggestive embodiment of this invention in a preferred form is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in the manner following:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of a framed sign, broken away to confine the showing to one end portion thereof;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the tubular frame with its closure plate forced to an outwardly bowed position whereby to provide at the top, between itself and the frame, an opening of sufficient size for movement of a sign board therethrough; FIG. 3 is a similar view, showing the closure plate sprung back into a relatively flatwise state wherein its position is closed relative to the frame; FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in cross section at a medial point through the top of the frame, taken on line 44 of FIG. 2, showing the closure plate rearwardly bowed to provide an opening for movement of a sign board into or out of the frame; FIG. 5 is a similar cross sectional view through the bottom of the frame, taken in the same plane as FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail in cross section at a medial point through the top of the frame, taken on line 66 of FIG. 3, showing a sign board in place therewithin and the closure plate in closed position relative thereto; FIG. 7 is a similar cross sectional view through the bottom of the frame,

taken in the same plane as FIG. 6, showing both the sign board and closure plate in their normal operative positions; and FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the closure plate in an extreme forward position as when no sign board iscarried in the frame and also, in dotted lines, an extreme rearward position, as when the closure plate is forced back at its top for movement of a sign board into or out of operative position, the mechanical forces involved in these two positions being indicated by arrows applied at the places most affected.

The sign frame F consists essentially of a tube of aluminum or the like bent into a four-sided rectangular structure with wide-radius corners. The meeting ends of the tube are coaxially united in any suitable way whereby the frame is rendered endless. Fitted to the rear face of the frame is a closure plate P of metal or the like having some degree of resiliency as one of its properties, this plate being formed with elongated fianges'll and 12 extending forwardly from its bottom and opposite ends, respectively. These three marginal flanges which are specially contoured transversely are fixedly secured to the frame as by explosive rivets 14 passing through its outer wall. All the rivets so entering the frame are desirably aligned in a single plane lying just rearwardly of the axis of the tube forming the frame. A flange 15 extended forwardly from the top of the closure plate overlies the top of the frame, preferably in slightly spaced relation thereto. A relatively thin sign board B of composition material or the like, which is flexible to a limited degree at least, is accommodated fixedly within the marginal flanges.

11, 12 and 15 so as to engage tangentially with the rear face of the frame P where it is held with a firm pressure applied from the rear by the closure plate.

The end and bottom flanges 11 and 12 are each configured to provide (1) along its line of juncture with the plate P an angle a of substantially degrees, and (2) also an initial bend b which may be of about 30 degrees or so (off of horizontal) at a point forwardly of the plane cc coincident with the axes of the several frame sides (see FIG. 8). The top closure flange 15 need not engage with the frame although, if desired, it may frictionally contact lightly therewith. It is important, however, that it be free to separate from the frame top in response to any rearward deflection of the closure plate P throughout its upper portion to provide thereat a continuous narrow opening for substantially the length of the frame to receive the sign board B whose dimensions are such as to position its marginal portions against the rear face of the frame on all sides thereof when assembled therewith. Such a board is desirably capable of withstanding all usual weather con.- ditions, its front face being adapted to accept thereon printed or painted characters for effective display in one or more colors. The sign, when carried within the frame, will occupy a position adjacent the closure plate, forwardly thereof, to receive backing therefrom, and on its front face will carry the desired message whose characters will remain always exposed to view. Insertion and removal of the sign board will oridinarily take place only infrequently when it is to be fitted into exposure position or be Withdrawn therefrom. It is important, therefore, that provision for such an occasional operation be made and that at all other times the opening provided for this purpose remain closed.

These objectives are attained in the present invention by the specially formed flanges 11 and 12 engaging the ends and bottom of the tubular frame, as well as the manner of their attachment thereto. Initially the bend b undergoes a change when the closure plate P is first attached to the tubular frame. This comes about from the pressure applied thereto, axially through the rivets 14,

3 whenthese rivets are installed to permanently secure the plate to the frame. straighter contour having two spaced fixed lineal points of contact between the flanges 11 and 12 and thefrarne bottom andends, as indicated by the radial arrows applied to the diagrammatic view of FIG. 8 where the,

same reference characters are applied to parts which, correspond to those in the remaining figures. These two lineal points of contact are disposed in two spaced planes, one near the free edge of the flanges 11 and 12 and the other :at the plane cc which coincides with the axes of the several-sides of the tubular frame. In FIG. 8 the closure plate P is shown as inclining forwardly toward the frame due to the absence of any sign board to'hold itsubstantially parallel therewith. Each angled flange is thus seen to be fixedly anchored to the bottom and ends of the frame .so as to remain immovable thereon, tending, in consequence, to maintain the (310-,

sure plate, body toward the rear face of the tubular frame, with a slight forward convex curvature of its body in its central area, thereb to clamp the sign board B fixedl therebetween. The material of which the board is made will then be subjected to a maximum pressure in its marginal area, possibly resulting in a slight compression thereof, as indicated in FIG. 7.

Whenever it is desired to provide along the top of the frame an openingfor a sign board to be passed therethrough, a force is first applied to' the closure plate at its top to deflect it rearwardly for this purpose. The rearward bending which follows is concentrated largely in the upper portion of the closure plates where the minimum resistance is encountered. Such a deflection is accompanied by a yielding in varying degree of the flanges 11 and 12 at or near the angle a in response to, the rearward bowing of the closure plate. which are normally maintained under tension through the transverse'bend b may readily expand, thus facilitating the rearward deflection of the closure plate. As a result, the angles a, particularly those of the end flanges. 12, are slightly enlarged, the degree of this enlargement being increased progressively throughout the upper portion of the closure plate. ,The opening thus provided forwardly of the closure plate at its top permits a board B to be readily passed therethrough, particularly if the board be flexed slightly to better accommodate itself to the shape of the opening. Thereafter, when the plate P is permitted to spring inwardly to its normal closure position, the sign board B will be effectively locked immovably within the. frame so as to remain protected therein whether stationary or in motion.

A diflicult problem has been solvedthrough the means employed whereby the closure plate is resiliently carried by the tubular frame. Bearing in mind that the surfaces of such a frame are transversely circular, it is not easy to attach thereto, under tension, .the flanges of a back closure plate andaccomplish this in a way which is simple, effective, and not unsightly, asherein disclosed. The terms bottom, top, and ends, applied to the framed sign should be understood as relative only, and are apt mainly because the sign, as shown, is elongated horizontally for an intended mounting upon These flanges This bend is then forced toward a the body of a taxicab at its rear. In use, whether moving or stationary,'it will successfully withstand all the usual rigors of outdoor weather, and falling rain or melted snow will readily run along the 'top face of its bottom side toward opposite ends thereof-to drain off through the open spaces at its corners.

I claim: a

1. .A framed sign comprising, in combination, an endless tubular frame of generally rectangular contour, a relatively thin display board sized to substantially agree with the outside dimensions of .the frame' adapted'to rest removably against the frame back face on all four sides thereof, a resilient closure plate carried at the frame back, the closure plate being turnedthrough approximately v degrees at points relatively close to three of its edges to provide flanges each formed with a furtherinward bend near its free edge, each flange being extended forwardly of the frame to embrace an outer face thereof and Contact 'therewithat two spaced lineal points circumferentially thereof, one coincident with a plane intersecting the axes of the several sides of the tubular frame and the other forwardly thereof and close to the free edge of the flange,and means interconnecting three.

of the tubular frame sides with the proximate flanges at lineal points located circumferentially rearwardly -ofthe plane aforesaid and acting to hold each flange tightly against an outer face ;of the frame with a pressure such as to place the several flanges under tension transversely thereof whereby to transmit to the body of the closure plate a force tending to maintain the. latter resiliently against the back face of the frame, the closure plate being free along the fourth side of the :frame for yielding away. therefrom, in response to pressure applied thereto for the purpose, to provide lengthwise along the rearward face of said fourthside of the frame a narrow opening through which the sign board may be slid into and out of operative positions relative to the frame.

2. A framed sign according to claim 1 wherein the further inward bend of each flange is spaced away from its free edge, and the proximate point'of linealcontact between the flange and an outer. face :of the frame is circumferentially intermediately of the said inward bend and the parallel free edge thereof.

3. A framed sign according -to claim 1 wherein the means interconnecting three of the tubular frame sides with the. proximate flanges of the closure plate comprises rivets extending through the flanges and through an outer wall of the tubular frame, each rivet exerting axially of itself and off-radially of the frame a firm holding force tending to maintain the associated flange closely against the frame. outer face. 7

References (Iited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,470,486 10/23 Russell 40l29 1,776,618 9/30 Chadwick 402O9 2,143,583. l/39 Skerl .40-129 2,515,818 9/50 Bennett ,40--

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner, 

1. A FRAMED SIGN COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ENDLESS TUBULAR FRAME OF GENERALLY RECTANGULAR CONTOUR, A RELATIVELY THIN DISPLAY BOARD SIZED TO SUBSTANTIALLY AGREE WITH THE OUTSIDE DIMENSIONS OF THE FRAME ADAPTED TO REST REMOVABLY AGAINST THE FRAME BACK FACE ON ALL FOUR SIDES THEREOF, A RESILIENT CLOSURE PLATE CARRIED AT THE FRAME BACK, THE CLOSURE PLATE BEING TURNED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES AT POINTS RELATIVELY CLOSE TO THREE OF ITS EDGES TO PROVIDE FLANGES EACH FORMED WITH A FURTHER INWARD BEND NEAR ITS FREE EDGE, EACH FLANGE BEING EXTENDED FORWARDLY OF THE FRAME TO EMBRACE AN OUTER FACE THEREOF AND CONTACT THEREWITH AT TWO SPACED LINEAL POINTS CIRCUMFERENTIALLY THEREOF, ONE COINCIDENT WITH A PLANE INTERSECTING THE AXES OF THE SEVERAL SIDES OF THE TUBULAR FRAME AND THE OTHER FORWARDLY THEREOF AND CLOSE TO THE FREE EDGE OF THE FLANGE, AND MEANS INTERCONNECTING THREE OF THE TUBULAR FRAME SIDES WITH THE PROXIMATE FLANGES AT LINEAL POINTS LOCATED CIRCUMFERENTIALLY REARWARDLY OF THE PLANE AFORESAID AND ACTING TO HOLD EACH FLANGE TIGHTLY AGAINST AN OUTER FACE OF THE FRAME WITH A PRESSURE SUCH AS TO PLACE THE SEVERAL FLANGES UNDER TENSION TRANSVERSELY THEREOF WHEREBY TO TRANSMIT TO THE BODY OF THE CLOSURE PLATE A FORCE TENDING TO MAINTAIN THE LATTER RESILIENTLY AGAINST THE BACK FACE OF THE FRAME, THE CLOSURE PLATE BEING FREE ALONG THE FOURTH SIDE OF THE FRAME FOR YIELDING AWAY THEREFROM, IN REPONSE TO PRESSURE APPLIED THERETO FOR THE PURPOSE, TO PROVIDE LENGTHWISE ALONG THE REARWARD FACE OF SAID FOURTH SIDE OF THE FRAME A NARROW OPENING THROUGH WHICH THE SIGN BOARD MAY BE SLID INTO AND OUT OF OPERATIVE POSITIONS RELATIVE TO THE FRAME. 